Professional cook Brooke Parkhurst has developed a few tricks and shortcuts to make your kitchen life much easier. How? By transforming your leftovers into delicious meals.

From the Beginning

From the Beginning

As a mom and professional cook, leftovers are my hall pass to a stress-free night that's more about relaxation than dirty pots and dish-pan hands. But while I'm a cook and a concerned mommy who just wants her 3-year-old to eat well—and a lady who wants a relaxing glass of wine at 6 o'clock!—I'm also a wife who wants to 'wow' her four-star chef husband. And trust me, that last part is a tall order.

What do I do? How do I dress up last night's meal, recreating it into something totally new and exciting? Over the past three years, I've developed a few tricks and shortcuts that make my kitchen life much easier. Here's my shortlist for ensuring incredible meals all week long. I promise you'll never eat the same thing twice!

The Base

The Base

If I know that it's going to be a busy week, I plan for leftovers ahead of time. (Sounds a little backward, but it works!) The real pros, like my husband James, have taught me to KISS in the kitchen—"Keep It Simple, Stupid." Simply-prepared proteins on Monday and Tuesday translate into interesting, flavor-packed meals the rest of the week. My go-to proteins:

1. Bone-in, Skin-on Chicken Breasts & Thighs

2. Skirt or Flank Steak

3. Pork Tenderloin

Once these are cooked and in the refrigerator, I'm ready for a week's worth of incredible dinners.